Method and device for the three-dimensional representation of information with viewer movement compensation

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an autostereoscopic method and a device for the three-dimensional representation of information according to a barrier-, lenticular-, prismatic mask-, or similar method using flat-panel displays (liquid crystal-, plasma-, electroluminescent- or other displays) for use in the computer and video technology, games and advertising, medical engineering, virtual reality applications, and other fields. According to the invention, the image points are proportionally tracked to lateral movement of the observer by shifting, for each colored subpixel, of the intensities of the colored subpixels to horizontally adjacent colored subpixels. The method can be used with known devices. It becomes especially useful when, for each image point, n+1 adjacent colored subpixels are addressed. Observers moving sideways continue to see the image in practically consistently high quality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an autostereoscopic method and a device for thethree-dimensional representation of information according to a barrier-,lenticular-, prismatic masking-, or similar method using flat-paneldisplays (liquid crystal-, plasma-, electroluminescent- or otherdisplays) for use in the computer and video technology, games andadvertising, medical engineering, virtual reality applications, andother fields.

For the three-dimensional representation of information someautostereoscopic methods are already known, namely, among others, thebarrier, lenticular, and prismatic masking methods (see, for example, S.Pastoor: 3D-Display-Technologie [3D display technology],Euroforum-Konferenz Display 1996, 17th and 18th Apr. 1996 inNürtingen/Germany; D. Ezra et al.: Blick in die dritte Dimension[Looking into the third dimension]. In: Fernseh- und Kinotechnik, vol.50, no. 3/1996, pp. 79-82; DE 296 12 054 U1; R. Börner: Autostereoscopic3D-imaging by front and rear projection and on flat panel displays. In:Displays, vol. 14, no. 1, 1993, pp. 39-46; Autostereoscopic 3-D ImageDisplay Device. In: IBM TDB, Vol. 37, no. 8, August 1994, pp. 463-465).

Using these methods, two images of a stereoscopic pair aresimultaneously generated, one for the right eye and another for the lefteye, and represented in a number of horizontally adjacent verticalcolumns, one image in columns for the right eye (in the following, rightcolumns) and the other in columns for the left eye (in the following,left columns). The right columns and left columns alternately followeach other. Each two successive columns, one right and one left, form apair of columns. From the two plain, fringe-like images of the pair theobserver gains, due to his/her vision, a three-dimensional imageimpression.

The display by which the images of the pair are generated contains anumber of pixels that are arranged as a matrix and vertically below eachother compose the columns for the images. On usual direct-sight colordisplays each pixel technically consists of three colored subpixels forthe three primaries red (R), green (G) and blue (B). On other displaysthe number of the colored subpixels is increased, for example, there isa second B-colored subpixel provided for each pixel. In a generalizedmode, each pixel consists of n colored subpixels. By superpositioningthe color contents of each n colored subpixels of the pixels imagepoints develop on the display the raster of which corresponds to thematrix of the pixels. By each pixel column an image column is formed onthe display from one of the two images of the pair. Each column has oneimage point per line. The colored subpixels are usually arranged in thepixels horizontally side by side, and repeat periodically on the lines,e.g. RGB, RGB, . . . or BRGB, BRGB, . . . . Sequence and number n of thecolored subpixels per period are determined by the design of theindividual display. A color filter is assigned to each colored subpixel.Each colored subpixel is addressed corresponding with the appropriatevalue of intensity. The intensity values are given for each image byprogramming means.

The information in the right and left columns are assigned to the rightand the left eye, respectively, using optical means, e.g. imaged inthem. In the lenticular system each pair of columns is assigned acylindrical lens. In the barrier method the columns are covered byline-shaped barriers such that the left eye can only see the leftcolumns and the right eye can only see the right columns while the othercolumns are shaded in each case. In the prismatic masking method, prismsare arranged in front of the columns in a separation and a field lensmask, or in a combined separation/field lens mask respectively. Thebundles of rays emerging from the right and left columns arehorizontally separated using the prisms of the separation mask andspread by direction by about 6° corresponding with the spacing of theeyes whereby the right and left ray bundles each run parallel. Theprisms of the field lens mask focus the right ray bundles onto the righteye and the left ray bundles onto the left eye. With both masks arrangedbehind each other, or with the combined separation/field lens maskrespectively, two cones of light develop emerging from the display inthe apeces of which the eyes of the observer are.

From this, observer positions ensue in that the right eye sees only theright columns and the left eye sees only the left columns. Theseobserver positions repeat periodically when the observer moves laterallyin front of the display. In these ideal observer positions the columnsare assigned to the observer's eyes correct and in full width. For asmall lateral displacement the match of columns and optical meansreduces relative to the observer position. The right eye receives, forexample, just 80% of the information of the right picture but 20% of theleft. Cross-talk interference arises between the two image channels assoon as the observer moves. The stereo contrast reduces. The proportionsof wrong information rise when the observer continues to move laterallyuntil a total reverse of the information takes place, that is,information for the right eye is assigned to the left and vice versa.The observer sees a pseudoscopic picture. When the lateral movement iscontinued, the laterally correct information contents grow up reaching100% correct assignment again.

Already known is to monitor the lateral position of the observerrelative to the screen. For example, the position of the head and thusof the eyes relative to the screen can be determined using a commercialinfrared camera (e.g., DynaSight of Origin Instruments Corp., GrandPrairie, Tex., USA).

In the lenticular system the lens mask, and in the barrier method thebarrier grating are mechanically followed. In other solutions the lightof the light sources is laterally followed, or the screen is turned on avertical axis. Generally, the pictures of the stereoscopic pair or theoptical means to see the pictures, respectively, are followed to thelateral movement of the observer.

Also already known is the electronic switching of the pictureinformation in those positions where the observer gains a pseudoscopicimage.

The mechanical tracking devices require additional drive mechanisms,with an additional effort in manufacture, maintenance and space.Furthermore, they are relatively slow compared to electronic switchingtimes. Problems increase with growing travel distance.

The electronic switching of the picture information can be carried outby programmes, that is, without any additional effort in hardware. Theobserver, however, must still remain in the ideal seating positions;only the number of them doubles. In the positions between the idealones, there is still cross-talk interference with resulting badlyreduced image quality.

This is particularly significant with today's color displays. Betweenthe ideal positions the observer sees, for example, instead of the redcontents corresponding to the right image, the red contentscorresponding to the left image and these form combined with the stillcorrect green and blue color contents significantly disturbed stereoimages. In this example, the stereo images for the green and blue colorcontents are correct. But as fas as the red color content is concerned,an inverse stereo image is obtained with the appropriate pseudoscopiceffect.

The lenticular system amplifies this effect in a specific way. In orderto cope with this, the display was turned by 90°. By this, the coloredsubpixels of each pixel are arranged below each other so that theoriginal color values are proportionally maintained when the observermoves. This turn, however, requires a new design of the display.

It is the objective of the invention, when using a flat panel displaywhose pixels have n colored subpixels each arranged horizontally side byside and periodically following each other in a line, to track theimages of a stereoscopic pair relative to lateral changes of theobserver position such that the high stereoscopic image quality existingin the ideal observer positions is largely maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention the problem is solved in that the imagepoints are laterally shifted proportionally to the movement of theobserver by shifting, for each colored subpixel, the intensities of thecolored subpixels to colored subpixels horizontally adjacent on thedisplay.

The method can be successfully realized, if in a first version, asalready known, n colored subpixels per image point are available. Thenumber of the ideal observer positions is raised to six per period ofthe ideal observer positions without image tracking. The stereoscopiccross-talk interference between the ideal positions is limited to a verylow level by shifting the intensities, preferably for each coloredsubpixel in intermediate steps.

In another embodiment of this first version, a similar effect isachieved due to the fact that the programmed shifting, for each coloredsubpixel, of the image contents on the non-moving screen according tothe invention is combined with the already known lateral shifting of thedisplay or the light of the light sources or the optical means (e.g., ofa barrier grating or of cylindrical lenses). Hereby the travel distancecan be kept very small because the compensation must only include thefull width of a colored subpixel. By this ideal image quality isachieved in each observer position. The method according to theinvention becomes especially useful when, in a second version, n+1adjacent colored subpixels per image point are addressed whereby theintensities of the two equally colored subpixels located at the bordersof each image point are identical and preferably correspond to theintensity of this color in the image point, and the horizontal width ofthe visible part of an image point corresponds to n colored subpixelwidths.

Considering a usual color display manufactured up to now, with nadjacent colored subpixels per pixel, the image points, or imagecolumns, respectively, each are by one colored subpixel width wider thanthe pixels, or pixel columns, respectively.

In a preferable embodiment using a usual display with three coloredsubpixels in the colors RED (R), GREEN (G) and BLUE (B) periodicallyfollowing each other in a line, for each image point four coloredsubpixels are addressed. On the display line the colored subpixels withthe sequences RGBR, GBRG, BRGB, etc. form the image points.

In an ideal position in front of the screen the observer sees with theright and left eye, respectively, of the n+1 colored subpixels of eachimage point the two colored subpixels on the border of this image pointhalf-width and the n−1 colored subpixels in between full-width. Whenlaterally changing his/her position little, he/she sees of one of thetwo border subpixels a correspondingly smaller portion, e.g., only 20%of the colored subpixel width, but 80% of the width of the other bordersubpixel. As a sum, the intensity of the color content of the bordersubpixels is fully maintained. The observer continues to see astereoscopically—as well as laterally—and color-correct stereo image.

With growing distance of the observer from the display, the colorcontent of the border subpixels reduces. The reduction, however, isusually only a few percent so that the image impression hardlydeteriorates.

Thus the arrangement according to the invention “tolerates” smalllateral movements as well as greater changes of the distance of theobserver from the display without noticeable worsening of the imagequality.

On longer lateral movements of the observer the image points in thelines are, according to the invention, shifted by one or several coloredsubpixel widths and the intensity levels belonging to the image points,of the colors in the colored subpixels are assigned to the adjacent n+1colored subpixels in the line, which are at the new position of theimage point. The magnitude of the lateral shifting of the image pointsapproximately corresponds to the lateral positional change of theobserver. While the pixels and colored subpixels are bound to theirpositions on the display, the image points shift along the display linecorresponding to the lateral movement of the observer. In conjunctionwith the “tolerance” of the system (theoretically, a displacement of onecolored subpixel width maximum is allowed) the observer continues to seethe image in practically consistently high quality. During the movementof the observer the same information can be shown. But the informationcan also change with lateral displacement of the observer. For example,the observer sees more of the right or of the left side of an object.

For an embodiment of the device preferably designed with a barriergrating the width of the bars of the barrier grating is greater than thewidth of the slits between the bars of the barrier grating, whereby thebars in the path of the rays to the eyes of the observer cover n+1widths of colored subpixels and the slits between the bars are open forn widths of colored subpixels each.

It is shown by the subclaims and examples of embodiment that it isequally possible with the features according to the invention to build aprism or lenticular mask arrangement.

EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT

The invention is represented in the FIGS. 1 to 4 for the first version(n colored subpixels per image point), and in the remaining figures forthe second version (n+1 colored subpixels per image point). For bothversions, the different embodiments are first explained by anarrangement for a barrier method. The last two figures show thecompletely unproblematic transfer to arrangements for a lenticular or aprismatic masking method. Always by means of a horizontal section, thedrawings show the intensity values at the colored subpixels fordifferent observer positions:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 the observer is in an ideal position in front of the display;

FIG. 2 the position of the observer changed laterally by a distance a1and

FIG. 3 the position of the observer changed laterally by a distance a2;

FIG. 4 the position of the observer changed laterally by the samedistance a2 as in FIG. 3; in addition to the alteration of the intensityvalues the barrier grating is laterally shifted by the distance s;

FIG. 5 the observer is in an ideal position in front of the display;

FIG. 6 the position of the observer changed laterally by the distancea′;

FIG. 7 the position of the observer changed laterally by the distancea(;

FIG. 8 the observer is in three different lateral positions;

FIG. 9 the distance of the observer from the display has changed by thedistance b;

FIG. 10 an arrangement with prismatic mask; the observer is in an idealposition in front of the display;

FIG. 11 an arrangement with lenticular mask; the observer is in an idealposition in front of the display.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Version (n ColoredSubpixels, FIGS. 1 to 4)

In the figures a detail of a display 1 and a barrier grating 2 as wellas the right and left eye, 3 r and 3 l respectively, of an observer inan ideal position are shown. The lateral positional change a1 or a2,respectively, is monitored by a positional sensor. For this a DynaSightdevice is assigned to the display 1 and the target attached to theforehead of the observer. Device and target are not shown.

In the ideal position to FIG. 1, the observer sees the images of thestereoscopic pair completely and laterally correct. It is shown how theright eye 3 r sees through the grating slits the pixels P1, P3, P5 andP7, and the left eye 3 l sees the pixels P2, P4, P6 and P8 in fullwidth. The odd-numbered pixels contain information of the right image,and the even-numbered pixels contain information of the left image.Vertically below each other, the odd-numbered pixels form the right, andthe even-numbered pixels the left columns with the information of theright and left images, respectively. Each adjacent right and leftcolumns form a pair of columns.

Each pixel consists of n=3 colored subpixels, namely the subpixels forthe colors red R, green G and blue B, e.g. the pixel 3 consists of thecolored subpixels SP31 (a red subpixel), SP32 (green) and SP 33 (blue).The intensity values of the colored subpixels can be adjustedelectronically. The electronic means to do this are known and not shownin detail. By programme, this is done by defining the intensity values Ifor each colored subpixel, e.g. in image point B3: I3R at SP31, I3G atSP32, and I3B at SP33. The pixels P and the colored subpixels SP keeptheir positions on the display 1. The display 1, the pixels P and thebarrier grating 2 do not change their positions. With a lateral movementthe intensity values change. The right eye 3 r sees through the barrierslit in section A3 all colored subpixels SP31 to SP33 of the pixel P3,and the left eye 3 l sees through its barrier slit in section A4 allcolored subpixels SP41 to SP43 of the pixel P4. The positions of thepixels P and image points B coincide. The observer gains a stereo imagestereoscopically and color correct without cross-talk interference.

In FIG. 2 the observer has moved laterally relative to the display bythe distance a1. The display 1 with all pixels and subpixels, and thebarrier grating did not change their positions. The right eye 3 r′(nowsees in section A3 the colored subpixels SP32, SP33 and instead of SP31the colored subpixel SP41, which is, according to FIG. 1, still giventhe intensity value I4R (an information of the left image). According tothe invention, with the lateral movement al being determined the coloredsubpixel SP41 is given the intensity value I3R with the information ofthe right image, which before, in FIG. 1, was assigned to the coloredsubpixel SP31. Accordingly, the latter is given the intensity value I2Rand the colored subpixel SP51 is given the intensity value I4R. Theshift concerns the intensity values of all red subpixel columns, here byone pixel width to the left, from the observer's view. The image pointsB shifted by one colored subpixel width. They contain all the originalinformation.

Although the observer in FIG. 2 is no more in an ideal position, he/hersees through the programme-controlled shifting of the intensity valuesof the red subpixels a stereo image that is stereoscopically and colorcorrect.

In FIG. 3 the observer has moved sideways relative to the display by thedistance a2. The display 1 with all pixels and subpixels, and thebarrier grating again did not change their positions. The right eye 3 r″now sees in section A3 a part of the colored subpixel SP32, the coloredsubpixels SP33 and SP41 and a part of the colored subpixel SP42. To thecolored subpixel SP41 the intensity I3R is applied (which had in FIG. 1been at SP31). The two colored subpixels SP32 and SP42 at the border ofsection A3 are given the mixture intensities I2/3G and I3/4G,respectively. It is assumed in the example that SP32 is seen already 70%by the left eye and still 30% by the right eye. Accordingly, theintensity I2/3G consists of 70% of the intensity of I2G (in FIG. 1 atSP22) and 30% of I3G, i.e., in the ratio of the visible partial widths.The image points “B” have shifted by 1.7 colored subpixel widthscompared to their position in FIG. 1. Because their information contentsin the intermediate positions are not completely equal to the startingposition in FIG. 1, they were written between quotation marks. But alsoin the intermediate positions a high image quality is achieved.

In another, simplified embodiment a mixture intensity of 50% to 50% forall bordering colored subpixels not completely visible by a single eyeis pre-set. Here, the intensity of the colored subpixel SP32 wouldconsist of 50% of the intensity of I2G and 50% of the intensity of I3G.By this, per period of ideal positions without image tracking, 12 idealpositions for the observer result.

FIG. 4 starts with the same lateral movement of the observer as in FIG.3. The dashed lines correspond to the situation in FIG. 3. The right eyeagain sees without correction only 30% of SP32. Compared to FIG. 3, inaddition to the programme-controlled shifting of the intensity values alateral mechanical adjustment of the barrier grating 2 is carried out bythe distance s in the direction given by the arrow. The new positions ofthe barrier grating and of the sections are shown by solid lines. Thedistance s is chosen such that the left eye sees the colored subpixelSP32 in its full width. Taking the intercept theorems into account thedistance s corresponds to the compensation for the full width of thecolored subpixel, or to the partial width of the colored subpixel SP32no more visible. The intensity values are changed by programme as inFIG. 2. The image points has been shifted by two colored subpixelwidths. If the lateral movements can be realized accurately, the idealimage quality is always obtained for all observer positions.

The barrier grating would also have been shifted into the otherdirection, opposite to the arrow shown, so that the right eye sees thecolored subpixel SP32.

In the example, small changes a of the lateral movement were assumed inorder to clarify the changes. It goes without saying that the shiftingof the intensity values I over several horizontally adjacent pixels canbe executed proportional to longer lateral movements of the observer.Hereby, e.g., there would not be I2R at SP31 in FIG. 2, but I(2+k)R withk as a greater number of pixels.

The changes according to the invention shown for the barrier method canbe transferred to the lenticular system and similar systems and methods.

Second version (n+1 colored subpixels per image point, FIGS. 5 to 11)The examples are explained for a display 1 at which three subpixels SPwith the colors RED (R), GREEN (G) and BLUE (B) are neighboring in aline and periodically follow each other. According to the invention, theimage points B are no more formed of n=3, but n+1, i.e. 4 coloredsubpixels SP.

On the display 1 the pixels P are again arranged as a matrix. In theshown line sections of the display 1 they are successively designated,as in the FIGS. 1 to 4, with P1, P2, etc. The appropriate coloredsubpixels SP are also numbered in triple groups, e.g. the coloredsubpixels SP of the pixel P4 by SP41, SP42 and SP43. This numberingdefines the location of the colored subpixel SP on the display line. Inall figures the SP41 is at the same place of the considered line ofdisplay 1. In the example, the SP41 again is a R-colored subpixel. Theintensity I of the red color is pre-set according to the image point byprogramming means. In FIG. 5, the colored subpixel SP41 belongs to theimage point B3 and has the intensity value I3R (I for intensity, 3 forthe image point B3, and R for the R-colored subpixel). The detail A3 is,in FIG. 5, that part of the image point B3 visible for the right eye 3 rof the observer. Accordingly, A4 is that part of the image point B4visible for the left eye 3 l of the observer. Each image point includesfour colored subpixels SP. In FIG. 5, the image point B3 is formed ofthe colored subpixels SP33, SP41, SP42 and SP43. As shown in the furtherfigures, the assignment of the image points B to the colored subpixelsSP is not fixed. The image point B can be shifted along the line. Theassignment of the image point B to the four colored subpixels SP in itsnew position on the line is according to its displacement.

In the FIGS. 5 to 9 a barrier grating 2 is arranged in front of thedisplay 1. The width of its bars is greater than the width of the slitsbetween the bars. For either eye 3 of the observer viewing of 3 coloredsubpixels widths is free while in between always four colored subpixelswidths are shaded. In FIG. 5, in the details A3 and A4, the coloredsubpixels SP33 and SP43, or SP51 and SP61 respectively, located on theborder of the image points B3 and B4 are seen half each, and the coloredsubpixels SP41 and SP 42, or SP52 and SP53 respectively, located inbetween are seen in full width.

The observer looks through the barrier slit with his/her right eye 3 rat the image points B1, B3, B5 and B7, and with his/her left eye 3 latthe image points B2, B4 and B6. The odd-numbered image points containinformation of the right picture and the even-numbered image pointscontain information of the left picture. Vertically below each other,the odd-numbered image points form the right columns, the even-numberedimage points form the left columns with the information of the right andleft pictures respectively. Each adjacent right and left columns form apair of columns.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 equal intensity values I are assigned to thecolored subpixels bordering an image point, e.g., I3B for the blue colorportion in image point B3 and I4R for the red color portion in imagepoint B4. The intensity values I are identical in each case, andcorrespond each to the intensity value I of this color in the imagepoint B as if the color of the image point B, as applying up to here,were formed of only three colored subpixels. Because the borderingcolored subpixels each are seen only half, the details A3 and A4 as asum of the visible parts of all respective four colored subpixels SPcontain the correct blue or red color content.

An advantage of this embodiment can be seen from the FIGS. 6 to 9. InFIG. 6 the observer has changed its position laterally by a smalldistance a′(compared to the position in FIG. 5 (dashed lines). In thenew position 3 r′(the right eye sees the section A3′((solid lines). Itsees the colored subpixels SP41 and SP43 in full width as up to here, ofSP33 only about 25%, and of SP43 about 75%. Summed up, again 100% of theblue color content given by the intensity value I3B is seen. Theobserver can move ⅛ of the eye distance to the right or left without theimage quality changing.

In FIG. 9, the observer has moved away from the display by the distanceb. Again the image point 3, or section A3 of FIG. 1, is shown for theright eye of the observer. In the new position 3 r′″((the sectionA3′″((is seen, which is smaller than A3. This means that the summedcolor content of the border colored subpixels SP33 and SP43 is smallerthan 100%. This could be compensated for by changing the intensity valueI3B. In practice, for the standard embodiments, the width proportion ofthe border colored subpixels reduces in the image section by few percentonly so that the observer continues to see an image of almost the samequality.

The FIGS. 6 and 9 show the “tolerance” of the system against smalllateral movements and greater changes of the distance of the observerfrom the display.

In FIG. 7 the observer has moved laterally relative to the display bythe distance a″(in the direction given by the arrow (in direction to theupper border of the drawing). In position 3 r″(the right eye now sees insection A3″(the colored subpixels SP41, SP42, SP43 and SP51. Without theintensity values being altered, SP51 would have a wrong intensity valuein the image point B3. By the method according to the invention, withthe determination of the lateral movement a″((e.g., by head finding) theintensity values for each color are assigned to the adjacent coloredsubpixels of the corresponding color while their assignment to the imagepoints is maintained. To the two border subpixels now red in imagesection A3″(, the intensity value I3R is assigned. SP42 is given theintensity value I3G, and SP43 is given the intensity value I3B. Whilethe pixels P and the colored subpixels SP remained in their positions inthe display line, the image point B3 was shifted by a colored subpixelwidth in the direction given by the arrow (in direction to the lowerborder of the drawing) and assigned to the four colored subpixelslocated in the new position.

In FIG. 8 the shifting of the image points B to the pixels P, or theassignment of the intensity values I to the colored subpixels SPrespectively, in three steps is shown. In FIG. 8a, the observer has aposition according to FIG. 5. The position of the observer in FIG. 8bcorresponds to that according to FIG. 7. In FIG. 8c, the observer haslaterally moved even further. While the colored subpixels SP and pixel Pkeep (as in the display) their positions, the assignment of theintensity values I to the colored subpixels SP according to the shiftingof the image points changes whereby the information content of the imagesections A remains unchanged.

The lateral shift of the information content occurs simultaneously forthe entire display so that the observer sees the same image despite ofhis/her lateral movement. The particular advantage of the solutionconsists in that the shifting can be carried out step by step accordingto the width of the colored subpixels SP and, nevertheless, the image iscontinuously seen.

Although the observer in FIGS. 7, or 8 b or 8 c, respectively, is nomore in the position of FIG. 5, due to the programme-controlled shiftingof the assignment of the intensity values I to the colored subpixels SPhe/her sees a stereoscopically and laterally correct stereo image. It isas if he/her maintained his/her ideal position of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 10 a prism mask 4 is arranged in front of display 1. It spreadsthe ray bundles to the interpupillary distance and focuses them into theeyes 3 r and 3 l. The width of the prisms of the prism mask 4 isequivalent to the width of four colored subpixels. At the side of theprism mask 4 facing the display 1 there is a dimming grating withvertical bars 4 a. The width of the bars 4 a is equivalent to a coloredsubpixel width. The bars 4 a cover half a colored subpixel width on eachborder, that is, the prisms are transparent to light in their centresfor the width of three colored subpixels, and not transparent on theborders.

In FIG. 11 a lenticular mask 5 is arranged in front of display 1. Itspreads the ray bundles to the interpupillary distance and focuses theminto the eyes 3 r and 3 l. The width of the cylindrical lenses of thelenticular mask 5 is equivalent to the width of eight colored subpixels.At the side of the lenticular mask 5 facing the display 1 there is adimming grating with vertical bars 5 a. The width of the bars 5 a isequivalent to a colored subpixel width. The bars 5 a cover half acolored subpixel width on each border and a colored subpixel width inthe centre of each lens.

In the two examples, the dimming gratings are integrated in the prismmask 4 or lenticular mask 5, respectively.

The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of Germanpriority documents 196 52 689.2 of 18 Dec. 1996, 197 36 035.1 of 20 Aug.1997, as well as of International Application PCT/DE97/02910 of 15 Dec.1997.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to thespecific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but alsoencompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for the three-dimensional representationof information, comprising the steps of: generating a flat-panel displayhaving a plurality of pixels, each said pixel comprising n coloredsubpixels horizontally adjacent and periodically succeeding in a line toform two pictures of a stereoscopic pair, one said picture for the righteye of an observer and one said picture for the left eye of an observer,wherein said subpixels form adjacent, alternately succeeding right andleft columns having one image point each per line; providing opticalmeans; assigning each said column to the right or left eye,respectively, of the observer with said optical means; measuring thelateral angle of eye position of the observer to said display; trackingsaid pictures in said pair to a lateral change of position of theobserver; laterally shifting said image points and said columns toaccommodate said lateral change of position of the observer by shiftingintensities of each said colored subpixel to a horizontally adjacentcolored subpixel on the display, wherein said lateral shifting isapproximately proportional to said lateral change of position of saidobserver.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the respectiveintensities of the colored subpixels are shifted for each coloredsubpixel in intermediate steps, whereby the intensity of each saidcolored subpixel contains a proportion of the intensity corresponding toinformation for the right eye and a proportion of the intensitycorresponding to information for the left eye.
 3. The method accordingto claim 2, wherein the respective intensities of the colored subpixelscomprise intensity proportions that correspond to portions of a width ofthe colored subpixel seen by the right or left eye, respectively.
 4. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein the respective intensities of thecolored subpixels are formed independently of a partial width proportionof 50% each of the intensities of left and right colored subpixels. 5.The method according to claim 2, wherein the lateral shiftingcorresponding to the lateral change of position of the observer,comprises an electronic shifting of intensity values of each coloredsubpixel, over one or several horizontally adjacent pixels and amechanical lateral shifting of the display or of the optical means by adistance that corresponds either to a partial width visible withoutlateral shifting on the border of a section (A) of a colored subpixel orto the compensation of the partial width of a full colored subpixelwidth.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein n+1 adjacent coloredsubpixels are addressed per image point, whereby the intensities of twosubpixels having the same color on a border of an image point areidentical.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the intensitiesof the two subpixels having the same color bordering an image pointcorrespond to the intensity of the same color in the image point.
 8. Themethod according to claim 6, wherein the intensities of the twosubpixels having the same color boring an image point are increased withgrowing distance of the observer from the display.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the shifting of the intensities of eachcolored subpixel is performed by programming means.
 10. A device for thethree-dimensional representation of information, comprising: aflat-panel display having a plurality of pixels, each said pixelcomprising n colored subpixels having color contents horizontallyadjacent and periodically succeeding in a line to generate twosimultaneously produced pictures of a stereoscopic pair, one of saidpictures for the right eye and one of said pictures for the left eye ofan observer, said pictures resolved in a number of adjacent, alternatelysucceeding right and left columns having one image point each per line;optical means arranged in front of said display for assigning thecolumns to the right or left eye, respectively, of the observer; whereineach said image point comprises the color contents of an n+1 adjacentcolored subpixel, and wherein the horizontal width of a part visible bysaid optical means of one of said image points corresponds to n coloredsubpixel widths.
 11. The device according to claim 10, wherein saiddisplay has three colored subpixels periodically succeeding in a linefor the colors red (R), green (G) and blue (B), wherein each image pointconsists of four succeeding colored subpixels.
 12. The device accordingto claim 11, wherein in a display line, the colored subpixels formingthe image points succeed each other in the repeating sequence RGBR,GBRG, BRGB.
 13. The device according to claim 10, further comprising abarrier grating having a plurality of bars positioned in front of thedisplay with a plurality of slots defined by said bars, wherein thewidth of said bars is greater than the width of said slots.
 14. Thedevice according to claim 13, wherein each bar is n+1 colored subpixelwidths wide and wherein each slit between the bars is n colored subpixelwidths wide.
 15. The device according to claim 10, further comprising atleast one prism mask positioned in front of the display, wherein thewidth of the at least on prism mask corresponds to n+1 colored subpixelwidths.
 16. The device according to claim 15, further comprising adimming grid having vertical grid bars for said prism mask, whereby thewidth of each grid bar covering a center area of the prism maskcorresponds to the width of one of said colored subpixels and the widthof each grid bar on a border of said at least one prism corresponds toone-half the width of a colored subpixel.
 17. The device according toclaim 10, further comprising a lenticular mask arranged in front of thedisplay and having a cylindrical lens, wherein the width of thecylindrical lens corresponds to 2(n+1) colored subpixel widths.
 18. Thedevice according to claim 17, further comprising a dimming grid havingvertical grid bars for said lenticular mask, wherein the width of eachgrid bar covering a center region of the lens corresponds to the widthof a colored subpixel and wherein the width of each grid bar covering aborder of said lens corresponds to one-half the width of a coloredsubpixel.